KARACHI, June 6: The city government has proposed to allocate Rs15.59 billion for development sector out of its Rs31.97 billion budget estimates for the year 2004-05.

The allocation for development sector constitutes 49 per cent of the total budget. The development outlay was around Rs10.36 billion last year. City government officials said that the city, provincial, federal governments as well as a number of semi-government organizations would be involved in the development projects during the new fiscal year.

They said that the draft budget proposals were currently being discussed. These proposals were also presented in the city council on April 27 for seeking opinion by the members, however, the attempt failed due to uproar in the house.

They said that the development programme envisaged major projects for water supply and sewerage, restoration of storm water drains and their cleaning, construction of long-lasting roads, preparation of master plan and arrangements for garbage disposal.

For this purpose, the city government had earmarked three billion rupees out of its share of six billion rupees for the new fiscal year. The city district government of Karachi has proposed to earmark Rs5.92 billion for education sector, which was 14 per cent higher than the last year's allocation.

Health too has been given importance for which Rs2.55 billion have been proposed, which is 18 per cent higher as compared to the last year. In the new fiscal year, the health sector projects planned by the city government include establishment of diagnostic centres and a hospital for specialized diseases for which Rs20 million have been earmarked.

In view of growing heart diseases, the city government has planned to set up a cardiac hospital and this year Rs100 million are being earmarked for the purpose. For providing job opportunities to the citizens, the city government has chalked out 'Agro-Industrial Farming Estate project' in the new budget.

Under this project, the farms for fish, dairy and poultry, besides for meat and milk processing, would be initiated, which would help provide at least 20,000 jobs.

Moreover, Rs150 million are being allocated through the Citizen Community Board for development works, while Rs20 million would be spent on provision of recreational facilities, development of parks and plantation and on pollution control.

ROAD PROJECT: The construction of Landhi-Korangi Road, the biggest road sector project of city district government, will be kicked off on Monday evening. City Nazim Naimatullah Khan will be the chief guest at foundation stone laying ceremony on Monday evening. The road costing Rs460 million will be constructed from Bhittai Colony to Dawood Chowrangi. -PPI